Eckstein, Leon William (1914-1945)

ECKSTEIN, SMITH, ERICKSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:51:58

World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 (Died or Killed in Prisoner of War Status page 43)

Eckstein, Leon William, Pharmacist's mate 2c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris S. Eckstein, Stratford.

World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1946
National Archives and Record Administration

Name: Leon William Eckstein
Race: White
Residence State: Iowa
Report Date: 6 May 1942
Latest Report Date: 25 Jan 1945
Grade: Pharmacist`s mate, first class
Service Branch: Navy
Arm or Service: United States Navy
Arm or Service Code: United States Navy
Area Served: Southwest Pacific Theatre: Philippine Islands
Detaining Country: Japan
Camp: Omori Headquarters Camp (Ofuna) Tokyo 35-139
Status: Died as Prisoner of War
Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.

Stratford Courier
August 8, 1942

LEON W. ECKSTEIN IS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION BY NAVY

Leon William Eckstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein of Stratford, has been reported as missing in action on the navy department's casualty list No. 9 which was released Tuesday. He was a pharmacist's mate.

The report stated that some of those listed as missing may have been rescued at sea and landed at some isolated spot where they could not get in touch with this country's navy department.

Daily Freeman Journal
May 6, 1943

YOUTH LISTED AS PRISONER

STRATFORD - Listed as missing since the fall of Bataan, Leon Eckstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein of Stratford, has just been reported a prisoner of the Japanese somewhere in the Philippine Islands.

The Ecksteins received this first word of their son's whereabouts through the American Red Cross. The youth is a veteran of eight years naval service and is the third Stratford serviceman to be reported as Japanese captives in the last few months.

Webster City Freeman
March 29, 1945

Stratford Serviceman Missing in Sea Action

STRATFORD - Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Mellgren have received word from the navy department that their son, Virgil Mellgren, Y 1-c, is missing in action in the Pacific area.

Another Stratford serviceman, Leon W. Eckstein, PhM 1-c, a Jap prisoner in the Philippines since the fall of Bataan, has evidently been transferred to the Jap mainland, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Eckstein, have been notified by the Red Cross.

Daily Freeman Journal
January 22, 1946

Roll of Honor

Hamilton County casualty list of World War II as compiled by the War Records Division of the Iowa Department of History and Archives. The division asks that it be advised of any corrections or additions to this list.

ECKSTEIN, LEON WM., PHARM. MATE 2-C
Navy dead, previously prisoner of war
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein, Stratford, Iowa

Boone News Republican
October 30, 1948

PhM 2c Leon W. Eckstein

Final burial rites of Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Leon W. Eckstein, World War II casualty whose casketed remains have been returned to this country, will be conducted at the graveside in the South Marion Cemetery, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Dr. W. Frank Lister will officiate, and military rites will be conducted by members of the Stratford American Legion post.

The casketed remains are expected to arrive here from overseas Monday noon.

Leon Eckstein enlisted in the service of his country at Des Moines on April 20, 1935, serving on the medical staff before the war on the USS Tarcy, USS Langley and at the U.S. Naval hospital at San Diego, Calif.

During the war he served on the USS Augusta in Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines, and was taken prisoner while in the Philippines on January 2, 1942. He died in the Omori-Prison camp No. 3-B in Japan on January 28, 1945, at the age of 30.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris [Lyra Smith] Eckstein, 227 Crawford street; two brothers, Robert and John, and a sister, Mrs. Knute Erickson, all at home.

Stratford Courier
November 4, 1948

Last Rites Held for PhM 2c Leon W. Eckstein

Final burial rites of Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Leon W. Eckstein, World War II casualty whose casketed remains have been returned to this country, were conducted at the graveside in the South Marion cemetery, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Dr. W. Frank Lister of Boone officiated and military rites were conducted by members of the Stratford American Legion post.

Leon Eckstein enlisted in the service of his country at Des Moines on April 20, 1935, serving on the medical staff before the war on the USS Tarcy, USS Langley and at the U.S. Naval hospital at San Diego, Calif.

During the war he served on the USS Augusta in Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines, and was taken prisoner while in the Philippines on January 2, 1942. He died in the Omort Prison camp No.3-B in Japan on January 23, 1945, at the age of 30.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein, his sister, Mrs. Knute Erickson, and one brother, Robert, of Boone, and one brother, John, of Stratford.

Daily Freeman Journal
November 5, 1948

Last Rites Held for Leon Eckstein

STRATFORD - Last rites were held Tuesday afternoon for Leon Eckstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein of Boone, formerly of Stratford.

The rites were held at the South Marion cemetery.

Leon served ten years in the navy. While stationed in the Philippines, he was captured by the Japanese and later died in a Niponese prison camp. His body, which was cremated in Japan, was escorted to this country by a U.S. naval officer.